Annandale Lions Club

(Chartered 1948)

Memorial Service for Lion Jim Naccarato
July 8, 2002

Friends and Family of Lion Jim Naccarato, we are members of the world-wide organization known as Lions International.  We have gathered here in remembrance and to pay homage to a departed Brother Lion.  We are here to mourn with you the death of Lion Jim, and we are here to offer praise and thanksgiving for his life and service in Lionism.

Lion Jim served our club faithfully as a member for 17 years.  He worked tirelessly on our service projects such as eyeglasses recycling, and he hosted an �eyeglasses recycling night� at his office less than two weeks ago.  At the time of his death, he served as our Second Vice President and a member of our Board.

With you, the family and friends of Lion Jim, we share the grief of parting that bears so heavily on all who knew him.  He leaves a void that cannot be filled.  He will be sorely missed.  Yet, even as we feel this pain of parting, we have the comfort and consolation of happy memories of life and work with him.  He shared with us the unselfish service to his God, his community, and mankind, which is the hallmark of Lionism.  Through this far-reaching humanitarian service, he helped to promote the spirit of friendship and understanding among the peoples of the world, he helped make our community more beautiful, he helped the visually- and hearing-impaired, he helped provide medical research and health services, and he helped other volunteer organizations to better serve our community and the larger community about us.

In these and many other ways, Lion Jim helped make our world a better place to live.  In these and many other ways, he has been an instrument whereby many people, especially those less fortunate than us, live better, fuller, more useful lives.

[Scripture Readings by Lion Rudi Meekins.  Personal memories by Lions Doug Allston, Jeff Edelson, and Sid Jaffe]

In the giving of himself, his time, and his money in the service of Lionism, Lion Jim was obedient to the will and inspiration of God.  Accordingly, it is fitting and proper that we conclude this service by offering to God our prayers for our Brother, for his service, his family, and for us.  May we stand as we pray.

Concluding Prayer

Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, we come before You and these Your people to praise and thank You for the life and service of our Brother Lion Jim Naccarato.

We thank You for inspiring him to join with us in the service of Lionism.  We give praise and thanks to You for the opportunity given us to enjoy for a while his genial and strengthening fellowship.  We thank You for the opportunity to work with him for the betterment of our community and mankind both here and in the wider world around us.

We ask Your comforting blessings on all who mourn his departure from our midst, especially his family.  Grant to all of us the courage and strength to carry on the goodly work started by our departed brother.  May we live and work in thankful remembrance of Your great goodness and in joyful expectation of life eternal with You and our brother.

Finally, we pray, make us ever mindful of the shortness and uncertainty of human life that we may serve You and Your people faithfully and well while yet we have time, and at the end, grant us the blessing and peace of Your heavenly rest.  Amen.

Lions Club of Annandale
Post Office Box 453
Annandale, Virginia  22003
info@annandalelions.org